Mechanical eye splice for 6- and 8-part braided slings



Oct. 14, 1969 G. JOHANSEN 3,472,121

MECHANICAL EYE SPLICE FOR 6- AND 8-PART BRAIDED SLINGS Filed Nov. 13, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l G. JOHANSEN Oct. 14, 1969 MECHANICAL EYE SPLICE FOR 6- AND 8-PART BRAIDED SLINGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1967 %r I Z w M MM W 7/ 1 I if r 5/ d V 6 M W fl M W i United States Patent 3,472,121 MECHANICAL EYE SPLICE FOR 6- AND S-PART BRAIDED SLINGS Gunnar Johansen, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Mac- Whyte Company, Kenosha, Wis., a corporation -of Wisconsin Filed Nov. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 682,299 Int. Cl. D04c 1/12 US. Cl. 87-8 10 Claims ABSTRACT on THE DISCLOSURE A sling having a mechanical eye splice in which the eye is formed by unlaying the component ropes of the sling fabric at one end into two groups of ropes inserting the ends of an auxiliary core assembly (usually a short length of wire rope) into the undisturbed sling body to form a mandrel, and then laying the component ropes in approaching directions about the mandrel.

This invention relates to braided slings having a mechanical eye splice, and a method of forming such a sling.

Several methods for forming eyes on braided sling are known but not all of them are both simple to fabricate and capable of developing full or safe strength properties.

Accordingly an object of the invention is to provide a braided sling having a mechanically spliced eye and a method of efiiciently and economically forming such a sling.

Another object is to provide such a sling, and a method of forming it, which requires no special skill to fabricate and will develop full strength of the braided structure.

Another object is to provide such a sling having an eye or eyes that are economical to manufacture and use, streamline-d in appearance, flexible and wear resistant.

The above objects and advantages are exemplary only, and other objects and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following description.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammat-ically in accompanying figures wherein FIGURE 1 is a view showing a section of an eightpart braided fabric, one end of which has been unlaid and the component ropes spread and made ready for the formation of an eye;

FIGURES 2 through 4 illustrate subsequent successive steps in the formation of an eye; and

FIGURE 5 shows the final construction.

Like reference numerals will be used to refer to like parts (from figure to figure in the drawings.

In FIGURE 1 an eight part braided fabric is indicated generally at 10. It should be understood that the following described method and the resultant construction are equally applicable to all well known varieties of six or eight-part braided structures. For convenience of descrip tion, however, an eight-part braided structure has been chosen for illustration.

One end of the braided fabric has been unlaid and the component ropes 1, 2, 3, 4. 5, 6, 7 and 8 have been spread and made ready for the formation of an eye.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the component ropes are separated into two groups of ropes, 1 through 4 and 5 through 8, respectively. An independent and separate section of wire rope of proper size and length is indicated generally at 11. In the illustrated condition, the separate section-11 has been looped, and the free ends have been inserted for a distance [into the center of the braided fabric 10. This dummy section 11 acts as a mandrel and will be the center of the core of the finished eye. The groups of component ropes have been bent to the sides of the mandrel.

Starting from the crotch of the eye the two groups of component ropes, 1 through 4 and 5 through 8, are then helically laid or combined around the dummy loop to a predetermined pitch in approaching directions. The space between each helical turn of each group of ropes is so chosen that the other group will later fit snugly therein. This layup procedure is followed until the two groups of ropes meet at the bight 12 of the eye.

The layup of the two groups of ropes is continued until each group has been helically laid in all the available space between the turns of the other group and the two groups meet at the crotch 13 of the eye. The mandrel is completely covered.

At this point the ends of the component ropes 1 through 8 are cut to length and covered with a metal sleeve 14. The sleeve 14 is suitably pressed to clamp the ends of the component ropes as well as the ends of the mandrel to the basic braided fabric, thereby donning a connection of optimum strength.

The above series of steps represent only one of the several possible procedures for producing the splice construction shown in FIGURE 5. Other steps will be ap preciated from the foregoing description by those skilled in the art, and those additional steps are intended to be within the scope of the invention. For example, the component ropes may be braided about the mandrel rather than helic-ally laid.

I claim:

1. A flexible sling of a braided fabric formed by component ropes and having an eye, said eye including:

an auxiliary core assembly comprised of a separate and independent length of rope and acting as a mandrel, about which said component ropes are laid,

a crotch area formed at the ends of said component ropes and auxiliary core assembly, and

means for connecting the ends of the component ropes and auxiliary core assembly at the crotch are-a of the eye.

2. Structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the sling body is composed of an even number of component ropes, one half, which forms one group, being laid about the auxiliary core member in one direction, and the other half, which forms another group, being laid around the auxiliary core assembly in the opposite direction.

3. The structure of claim 2 further characterized in that the braided sling is a 6- or 8-part fabric.

4. The structure of claim 2 further characterized in that the two groups of component ropes are helically twisted about the auxiliary core assembly.

5. The structure of claim 2 further characterized in that two groups of component ropes are cabled about the auxiliary core assembly.

6. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the auxiliary core assembly is a single length of rope, the two free ends of which are inserted into the center portion of the sling body.

7. A method of forming a mechanical eye splice in a braided sling said method including the steps of providing an unlaid section of the sling body at the eye end thereof, said unlaid section comprising the component ropes of the sling,

inserting the ends of an auxiliary core assembly of desired size and length into the center of the undisturbed sling body in the eventual crotch area of the eye to be formed,

laying each group of component ropes about the auxiliary core assembly commencing at the crotch area and proceeding along an associated end of the auxiliary core assembly until each group has traversed substantially the length of the auxiliary core assembly, and

securing the free ends of the component ropes to the sling body.

8. The method of claim 7 further characterized in that each group of component ropes is 'hel ioally laid about the auxiliary core assembly, each group being laid in the space between the turns of the other group.

9. The mehtod of claim 7 further characterized in that the component ropes are formed into two groups, each group having an even number of ropes.

10. The method of claim 7 further characterized in that the groups of component ropes are braided about the auxiliary core assembly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Peterson 878 XR Peterson 87-8 Himick et al. 57-142 Crandall 57142 Nischan 57-142 Lucht 57142 Antell 876 XR Little 57I42 XR Meals et a1 87-8 JOHN PETRAKES, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X. R. 

